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Here is the latest instalment of Steam's Hardware Survey, as usual we do our monthly thing and compare it and talk about it and make sure you know not to use it as a hard figure.
Linux results for May 2014
Ubuntu 14.04 LTS 64 bit 0.43% +0.21%
Linux 3.10 64 bit 0.09% 0.00%
Linux Mint 16 Petra 64 bit 0.08% -0.01%
Ubuntu 12.04.4 LTS 64 bit 0.08% -0.04%
Ubuntu 13.10 64 bit 0.07% -0.18%
Ubuntu 14.04 LTS 0.07% +0.07%
Total: 1.13%
Last Month: 1.26%
My thoughts on it
So, we have a drop of 0.13% which is so low it can all be statistical errors, so there isn't much to talk about really. I imagine a few other places will put some kind of spin on it, but all I will say is that it will take time.
Still, it does show that at least for Steam that Ubuntu is the king. It will be interesting to see how far Linux Mint 17 gains for June's stats.
Things to note
Distro-hoppers will mess up the statistics as well, Linux users are far more likely to switch between different distributions than say a Windows user due to how many we have.
Just be aware these results will probably not be that accurate as we don't know how they do their percentage results, they could be rounding up, rounding down or truncating the percentages. So a 0.5% could actually be nearly 0.6% as it could be 0.59% but they could do no rounding and simply truncate it.
Also it won't be every Steam user (it's a survey not a full statistic), so it can be as simple as not actually showing the survey to many Linux people.
Let's face it we know they don't survey 100% of their user base, only a small fraction of it, so bear that in mind as well.
Linux users typically shy away from any form of DRM, so you can bet there is a large bunch of Linux users who just simply refuse to use Steam.
Final Note: Look at it this way, Steam has around 75 million active users, 1% of 75 million is about 750,000 people. What developer wouldn't want to hook into a market that big? We are still under-represented in my eyes. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Linux results for May 2014
Ubuntu 14.04 LTS 64 bit 0.43% +0.21%
Linux 3.10 64 bit 0.09% 0.00%
Linux Mint 16 Petra 64 bit 0.08% -0.01%
Ubuntu 12.04.4 LTS 64 bit 0.08% -0.04%
Ubuntu 13.10 64 bit 0.07% -0.18%
Ubuntu 14.04 LTS 0.07% +0.07%
Total: 1.13%
Last Month: 1.26%
My thoughts on it
So, we have a drop of 0.13% which is so low it can all be statistical errors, so there isn't much to talk about really. I imagine a few other places will put some kind of spin on it, but all I will say is that it will take time.
Still, it does show that at least for Steam that Ubuntu is the king. It will be interesting to see how far Linux Mint 17 gains for June's stats.
Things to note
Distro-hoppers will mess up the statistics as well, Linux users are far more likely to switch between different distributions than say a Windows user due to how many we have.
Just be aware these results will probably not be that accurate as we don't know how they do their percentage results, they could be rounding up, rounding down or truncating the percentages. So a 0.5% could actually be nearly 0.6% as it could be 0.59% but they could do no rounding and simply truncate it.
Also it won't be every Steam user (it's a survey not a full statistic), so it can be as simple as not actually showing the survey to many Linux people.
Let's face it we know they don't survey 100% of their user base, only a small fraction of it, so bear that in mind as well.
Linux users typically shy away from any form of DRM, so you can bet there is a large bunch of Linux users who just simply refuse to use Steam.
Final Note: Look at it this way, Steam has around 75 million active users, 1% of 75 million is about 750,000 people. What developer wouldn't want to hook into a market that big? We are still under-represented in my eyes. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
I was surveyed just one hour ago ;)
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I installed Linux Mint 17 (beta) and I'm honestly starting to regret it. Whenever I try installing something from Nooblabs (for example) it doesn't work, while there is no problem on my laptop with Ubuntu 14.04.
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No survey ever yet, but I would count towards Windows 8.0 anyway ;) That said, I really hope Linux will catch on more. Gaming (and resulting notebook hardware choices) are what keep me on Windows. Well, and PowerPoint.
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Judging from my experience as an everyday IT , Is very hard for a Windows,Mac User to migrate to any Linux OS.
And next month I believe the Linux statistics will be less on Steam...
For Gamers
-------------
Watch Dogs, Stomping Land and The Forest - three of the most anticipated games released for Windows.
So any new user on Linux or dual boot or whatever they would just say fuck it.
I am switching to windows just to be able to play these games.
For Casual Mac/Windows Business/Users
----------------------------------------
There are some applications that are especially deigned for Mac and you cannot find them in a windows version or Linux and some people cant live without these applications.So a switch for them is impossible. Same goes with Windows especially for the Business.
Some people are stuck with Office/outlook and business applications like Caseware etc any alternative is out of question.
Before I switch my personal desktop to Only Linux OS I had to try out a lot of Distros and struggle a lot to learn Linux.
Imagine I am a computer geek, I know how things are working etc. But how about the casual dumb user? Is impossible for them to try new things.
I have one folder with over 100 modifications/optimizations for Manjaro just to be able to use it as I want. After a year now using Linux , I cant go back to windows even for a Game....
And next month I believe the Linux statistics will be less on Steam...
For Gamers
-------------
Watch Dogs, Stomping Land and The Forest - three of the most anticipated games released for Windows.
So any new user on Linux or dual boot or whatever they would just say fuck it.
I am switching to windows just to be able to play these games.
For Casual Mac/Windows Business/Users
----------------------------------------
There are some applications that are especially deigned for Mac and you cannot find them in a windows version or Linux and some people cant live without these applications.So a switch for them is impossible. Same goes with Windows especially for the Business.
Some people are stuck with Office/outlook and business applications like Caseware etc any alternative is out of question.
Before I switch my personal desktop to Only Linux OS I had to try out a lot of Distros and struggle a lot to learn Linux.
Imagine I am a computer geek, I know how things are working etc. But how about the casual dumb user? Is impossible for them to try new things.
I have one folder with over 100 modifications/optimizations for Manjaro just to be able to use it as I want. After a year now using Linux , I cant go back to windows even for a Game....
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I get a survey every month on windows but not in Linux. This way I dont give anything about this surveys.:><:
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Quoting: wolfyrionJudging from my experience as an everyday IT , Is very hard for a Windows,Mac User to migrate to any Linux OS.
And next month I believe the Linux statistics will be less on Steam...
For Gamers
-------------
Watch Dogs, Stomping Land and The Forest - three of the most anticipated games released for Windows.
So any new user on Linux or dual boot or whatever they would just say fuck it.
I am switching to windows just to be able to play these games.
For Casual Mac/Windows Business/Users
----------------------------------------
There are some applications that are especially deigned for Mac and you cannot find them in a windows version or Linux and some people cant live without these applications.So a switch for them is impossible. Same goes with Windows especially for the Business.
Some people are stuck with Office/outlook and business applications like Caseware etc any alternative is out of question.
Before I switch my personal desktop to Only Linux OS I had to try out a lot of Distros and struggle a lot to learn Linux.
Imagine I am a computer geek, I know how things are working etc. But how about the casual dumb user? Is impossible for them to try new things.
I have one folder with over 100 modifications/optimizations for Manjaro just to be able to use it as I want. After a year now using Linux , I cant go back to windows even for a Game....
Then they will have to learn fun stuff like no updated flash in FF, having to use PPA's and type in terminal commands to install anything not included with the distro, the fact that there is no one-click way to add shortcuts to the menu's, figuring out how to install drivers (why this is made to be so obtuse to the end use is beyond me...they should be installed from the get-go like manjaro does), finding out they're complex office documents won't display correctly, how much software center sucks, chrome has no plugins, wine is a PITA, Linux software is often left out in the cold and outdated from third parties (skype, anyone?), dropping ia32-libs for no apparent reason....shall I go on?
Anyway, if someone goes into linux with a mindset they are leaving the world of windows behind and wants to learn a new way of computing...then ok...me for instance, I had to reinstall a crapload if times because I kept tinkering around and messing up my install, and that's fine because I like doing that...I wouldn't expect everyone to...not to say linux is not usable out of the box, but I also wouldn't call it a complete user friendly experience. My mom uses Ubuntu that I installed for her just fine because all she does is online banking and shopping, but I would imagine the average professional or business user would get fed up pretty quickly with all the hoops one must jump through to get things working the way you want...good luck if you need photoshop or proprietary business software.
Disclaimer: Not bashing linux...just telling my perspective as a fairly new recruit. BTW, the forest will most likely be on Linux, but not until after release. Just going on what the forums say.
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Without AAA games on Linux I don`t see reasons for growing of number Linux gamers. Not huge number of bad indie, but 20-30 powerful AAA games and some strong indie, like ARMA 3 and Red Orcherstra 2.
I think, autumn 2014 and 2015 will change position of linux in the whole gaming.
Civ V and Civ Beyond Earth, Gauntlet, Killing Floor 2, XCOM EU, project CARS, Rome 2 Total war, CS GO, Metro Redux and some more games can give huge acceleration for Linux gaming. Without them - Linux is OS for geeks.
I think, autumn 2014 and 2015 will change position of linux in the whole gaming.
Civ V and Civ Beyond Earth, Gauntlet, Killing Floor 2, XCOM EU, project CARS, Rome 2 Total war, CS GO, Metro Redux and some more games can give huge acceleration for Linux gaming. Without them - Linux is OS for geeks.
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Not really sure what you're on about jdub. Skype works perfectly well on Linux. Most people won't need to ever use PPA's or terminal commands and installing drivers takes about 3 clicks. I'm using Mint and the software center works smoothly. Also I'm not sure what you mean by Chrome plugins but if you mean extensions, then they're fully supported. Office software like Libre Office works well (more and more businesses are moving towards it and dropping Office) and Gimp should do just fine for 95% of people who want photo editing software.
You're obviously a Windows fanboy so don't try and pull that one on us. Sorry but I've seen too many people claiming to use and love Linux while trashing it at the same time.
You're obviously a Windows fanboy so don't try and pull that one on us. Sorry but I've seen too many people claiming to use and love Linux while trashing it at the same time.
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Actually, there will be no plugins for all platforms in September. Argument invalid.
As for Skype, it indeed has been hanging for me periodically for over a year now. An MS conspiracy perhaps?
As for Skype, it indeed has been hanging for me periodically for over a year now. An MS conspiracy perhaps?
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